Slide fastener assembly



Nv.25,1941,. l v, LQGS 2,264,084

SLIDE FAS'TENER ASSEMBLY Filed March 18, 1940 u VII/111111111111111', u

lNvENToR Them/are L 005 Patented Nov. 25, 1.941 I sLmE FASTENER ASSEMBLY Theodore Loos, Tompkinsville, Staten Island,

N. Y., assignorto Lovon Corporation, a corporation of New York Application March 18, 1940', Serial No. 324,503

(Cl. 2'42o5) f l 1Y0 Claims.

The primaryfobject of my invention is to provide a new form of assemblyor mounting for which utilize spaced interlocking metal prongs and a sliding locking device, which new assembly or mounting isrbetter adapted -to attachmentto the article to which it is to be applied and alsoV better adapted for replacement of damaged fasteners, etc., than present forms of fastener assemblies. A further object of my'invention is to provide a simple and economical method of attaching such fasteners to the articles to which they are to be applied. A still further object of so-called slide fasteners ofthe well-known type my invention is to reduce the danger of damage I or injury to the fastener elements.

In its usual form, the prongs of such a fastener are ,carried by a strip ,of vflexible material, ordinarily fabric. When such fastener, which has been applied to an article in the usual way and without utilizing my invention, has been damaged and itis desired to replace it with a new one, it is necessary rst to remove the stitchingv by which the exible strips that carry the prongs are attached to the article, to detach the strips, and then to sew the flexible strips of the new fastener to the article. In the case of many articles,

Y this involves considerably more complicated opstraightened-out; in mounting the new fastener the same operations must be performed as were necessarywhen the bag was initially assembled and, in addition, in the case of certain materials, care must be taken to insert theI new stitches in the same holes in the material -of which the bag is made to avoid weakening the same. This usual method of replacement of slide fasteners on hand bags requiresvthe use of skilled labor,

' results inunnecessary waste of material, andis a comparatively expensive operation; as a result, the cost of repairs is a substantial item for bag manufacturers and also. in the case of cheaper bags, often makes it hardly worth while to replace a damaged fastener,

My invention makes it possible-both to apply A a slide fastener to anew bag or other article and also to replace a damaged fastener at a cost of from one-third to one-fourth of the present cost and by means of operations that can be carried out easily by unskilled labor. In its preferred form, my invention also provides increased protection to the fastener and decreases the danger of injury to its elements.

It will be understood thatv my slide fastener -assembly or mounting is adapted to be used not only on vhand or traveling bags or similar articles, but also on nearly all'articles to which itis desired to apply a slide fastener. g A

Other advantages of my invention willl appear from the following description thereof.

In the accompanying drawing- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of the preferred form of my slide fastener assembly or mounting.

taken from the inner side thereof, certain parts.,

being broken away for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a crosssection thereof taken on. the

- line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the fastener being open and the two parts thereof separated;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of my fastener assembly, taken-from the outside Fig. 4 is a fragmentaryview ofanother form of my slide fastener assembly or mounting, taken from the inner side thereof, certain parts being broken away for clarity .of illustration;

Fig. 5 is a cross section thereof taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4,1ooking in the direction of the arrows, the fastener being closed;

Fig. 6 is a cross section of one-half of the preferred form of my assembly as applied, forex# ample, to a club bag;

Fig. '7 is a similar cross section of a present common type of slide fastener assembly as ordinarily applied tosuch a bag: and i Fig. 8 is a fragmentary top view of a bag to which my invention has been applied.

- Referring to the drawing, the numerals l0, lli'` indicate the exible strip or tape, ordinarily made of suitable fabric, which carries the interlocking prongs Ii of the slide fastener. The manner of mounting the prongs on the tape and the configuration of the prongs are well known in the art and need not be described in the present specification. ,The illustrations of such parts, in the drawing accompanying this application, are therefore largely diagrammatic.

A present common method of applying a slide fastener to, for example, a club bag is-illustrated in Fig. '7, in which the numeral Il)2 indicates the4 flexible strip which carries the prongs Ii2 of the fastener. 'Iwo comparatively narrow strips J3, I3'l of leather or other suitable material are first cut to the proper size. The tape Ill2 oi' the fastener is then sewed between these strips, the stitching being indicated at II.` A straight strip of metal |52, designed to constitute one ofthe frame members surrounding the opening inthe bag, is then inserted between the strips I3, I3' and the-strips are then sewed together, as indicated at Iii-the lining 242 being, at the same time, sewed to the strips. These operations result in a combined covered frame for the bag and mounting for the slide fastener. Thereafter, the frame member I5,`so covered, is bent to the desired shape and ailixed to the wall |23 of the bag; this is done by sewing the inner edges of the strips I3, I3 to the wall of the bag, as indicated'at I6'. If the fastener is damaged and it becomes necessary to replace it. the row of stitching I 6 must be removed, whereby the frame member and the fastener are detached from the bag. It is not usually possible to salvage and use again the strips I3, I3'; therefore, the stitch- `ing I6 must usually also be removed so that the lining 242 may be amxed to the new frame assembly. If the-strips I3, I3' are to be used over again, it is also necessary to remove the stitching I4 to release the old fastener tape H12 and aillx the new one. Before amxing a new fastener to replace the damaged one and recovering the frame, the latter must be straightened out. Thereafter, the new fastener is ailixed, the frame re-covered, the lining replaced, and the frame again bent to the desired shape. The combined frame and fastener mounting are then attached to the bag in the same manner as in the original manufacture and all of the operations described above rnust again be carried out. The stitching operations are dimcult because, in every case, several layers of material have to be handled and adjusted. As already stated, this requires skilled labor and the cost is substantial. In fact, in the case of a cheap bag, the cost of replacing a damaged slide fastener may be almost equal to the original cost of the bag.

In the case of my improved assembly or mounting, two rigid strips I1, I1' are provided. Ilhave found that cold rolled steel strips, such as are readily available on the niarket in suitable lengths, are well adapted for use in my invention although, for some uses, even more'rigid strips may be desirable. On.the other hand, the strips may be made of stiff fiber although, in that event,

` they do not have as much rigidity as is desirable tapes I0, III'. 'I'he rigidstrips I1, I1' are prefer- I ably then drilled at suitable intervals for a purpose that will appear hereinafter. One of those strips is then placed between each fastener tape and the strip (I8 or I8') toi which it has been sewed. If desired, the Strips I8, I8' may beglued or cemented to the rigid strips I1, I1. The

fastener is then ready for mounting on the article f each fastener tape and of the corresponding rigid Y strip should be such that, as clearly indicated for example in Figs. 2 and 3, the prongs II which sponding edge of the rigid strip with which they are associated. In other words, when the prongs interlock and the fastener is closed and the elements thereof are under tension, the flexible strips, together with the prongs, should lie substantially nat on the surface of the rigid strips and adjacent edges of the rigid strips should be substantially in contact (as clearly shown in Fig. 5). The relative positions should be such, howlever, that the inner portion of the sliding member 29 which causes the prongs to interlock should pass freely between the prongs and the rigid strips when the fastener is being either opened or closed. Although it might appear that the relative positions must, to permit the sliding member to operate easily, be such that, when the fastener is closed and the prongs interlocked, the strips I1, I1. are separated, yet I have found that, ordinarily, the fastener tapes III, I0 have suiiicient elasticity and pliability to permit such relative positions to be used that there will 'be no or practically no space between the inner edges of the strips I1, I1', even when the fastener is closed. For example, the space indicated, in Fig. 8, between the strips I1, I1 may be so narrow that it is diilicult to insert a knife-blade therein.

The application of a fastener to an article orl the replacement of a damaged fastener becomes a simple and economical operation with my improved assembly. I here describe such operation as applied, for example, to a club bag. In this case, the wallof the bag is indicated at I2 (see Figs. 6 and 8) and the frame member of the bag which is adjacent the opening of the bag is indicated at I5. A cover 25 for the frame member I5 is folde'd' around the latter and the two edges thereof are sewed together, as indicated at 26; preferably, the lining 24 of the .bag is sewed to the cover 25 at the same time. The covered frame member, together with the lining, is then sewed to the' wall of the bag, as indicated at 21.`

The bag is then complete, exceptv for attaching a fastener thereto. Utilizing my improved fas' tener assembly, the fastener may be aillxed to` the bag, and a damaged fastener may be replaced by a newone without detaching the frame from the bag, without removing the lining, and, in fact, without removing any of the stitching by which the frame and its cover are attached to the bag.

Thus, all that is necessary to do, to install the fastener when the bag is first made, is to take an assembly (such as illustrated in Fig. 1) of the proper length and size, bend it to the desired shape, and fasten-itdirectlyto the bag frame. This may be done in any desired manner. In .the arrangement shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing, it is accomplished by drilling the bag frame and cover, as well as the rigid strips I1, I1' of my fastener assembly, and then attaching the latter to the frame members of the bag by suitabley means, such for example, as rivets 22.

With such an arrangement, the replacement of -a damaged fastener is very simple. It is only necessary to detach the fastener assembly from the frame members of the bag, as by punching out the rivets, where rivets have been used; ap-

ply new tapes to the strips; and ailix the reassembled fastener to the frame members. It will be seen that no stitchingneed be removed from the bag, that the coveringof the frame members need not be disturbed, that neither the strips I1, I1 nor the bag frame members need be are aixed to the flexible strip will project for a straightened out and re-bent, and that the operations are' simple and-can be economically performed. To facilitate the replacement operation, a supply of fastener tapes, already sewed to the flexible strips I8, I8' can be kept available for immediate use. I Y

Another form of my slide fastener assembly or mounting is shown in Figs. 4.and 5. In that form, each o f theexible strips or', tapes of the fastener, such as III, is directly afxed to the cor--v responding rigid' strip I1 by any suitable means. A readily available form of split rivet 28, which is caused to pass throughthe exible strip I and through` a perforation in the rigid strip I1 and which may be inserted by a hand punch, is well adaptedto the purpose. If rivets are used,

the spacing between them may vary by a considerable amount, depending upon the use to which the fastener is to be put. Rivets are shown and described merely by way of example, since the flexible strip may equally well be afilxed to the rigid strip by other means such, for example,

as short machine screws and boltsor by stitchered.

To mount thatv form of my fastener assembly that is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, additional perforations are provided in the strips I1,I I1', through which rivets, sleeve bolts, lor other suitable means may pass to amx such strips, with the fastener elements carried thereby, to the article to which the fastener is to vbe applied. This arrangement is shown in Fig. 8.

Although it is not essential, -I prefer to afllx to the inside of one of the rigid strips a guide member 23 (see Fig. 6) which, in the case of a club bag, will extend along a portion of thetop of the bag. The purpose of this member is to facilitate the closing of thebag and the bringing of the two rigid strips I1, I1' into alignment when the edges of the bag are brought together to close it.

One way in which' my' present invention may be applied to a club or similar type of bag i's shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 336,905. Y

As already suggested, my new fastener assembly or mounting has other advantages in adbecorne caught in the prongs of the fastener than when,'as in the usual formy of fastener assem- -bly,. the rigid strips are not present.

Another advantage of my improved fastener assembly isthat, when it is applied, for example,

to a club bag, hinge members may be mounted directly on the ends of the rigid strips I1, I1'. This feature enables, or in any event greatly 'simplies, its application to bags of that general character as well as to many other articles where U-shaped frames or edges are used and the fastener assembly follows the conformation of suchframes or edges. With this arrangement, the bag can be made to stay open while it is being packed, whereas present bags of such type, when supplied with a slide fastener, will repeatedly close on the arms of the person who is packing it.

Also, the hinges remove a large vpart of the strain from the fastener elements which is one of the common causes of injury to the fastener.

A still further advantage of my assembly is that both lateral and longitudinal play of the fastener elements is largely eliminated, which substantially reduces shock to the. elements resulting from lifting, carrying, or dropping the article to which the assembly has been'applied and also reduces the danger of injury resulting to the fastener elements from foreign articles' becoming caught in the prongs or slider.

Other advantages resulting from the use and application of my fastener assembly, both in its applicationto anduse on luggage and in its application to and use on numerous other articles,

will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Itis to be understood that my invention is by no means limited to the application thereof to traveling bags or to luggage or to similar article`s and that my description of such application thereof is given solely as van example and to illustrate one method in which it may be used; the articles to which my invention is adapted to be applied are countless, as will be understood by those engaged in the various arts which utilize slide fasteners. 'It is also to be understood that various modifications oralterations may be made in my slide fastener assembly or mounting and in the method of applying it,-in addition to those indicated in the ,foregoing description, Without departing from the spirit of my invention and that I desire protection for all suchmodifications or alterations as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

dition to its ease of application and'replacement.

' said flexible strips; the prongs projecting, for

becoming caught between the rigid strips. The

edges of the bag having been brought together with none of the bag contents projecting, the

fastener may be closed and opened repeatedly without danger of its becoming jammed and without danger of any partof the contents of the:- bag becoming caught in the prongs of the fastener, which mayreither tear or otherwise injure the article which gets caught, or damage Having described'myinvention, I claim:

1'. A slide fastener assembly comprising in combination a flexible strip carrying 'prongs of the fastener, asecond flexible strip -alxed to the first-mentioned strip at points spaced from the prongs, and a rigid strip freely disposed between a distance less than the length of an individual prong, beyond one lateral edge of the rigid strip.

2. An interlocking slide fastener assembly com` prising inv combination a. pair-of flexible strips each carrying prongs of the fastener, the prongs on each strip being adapted to interlock with those on the other strip; a second pair of flexible strips; each of said first mentioned strips ',gbeingailixed, adjacent that edge thereof that is spaced from the prongs, to one edge'of the corthe fastener, or both. Even if an article 'of' clothing, for example, does project between the strips I1, I1', I have found that, utilizing my improved fastener mounting, it is less liable to respondingsecond mentioned strip; a pair of rigid strips, each thereof being between one of the first mentioned flexible strips and that one of the second mentioned flexible` strips that is amxed thereto, one edge of each of said'rigid strips being adjacent the line along which those I edges thereof are substantially in contact when said fastener is closed and the elements thereof are 'under tension.

2i. A slide fastener assembly for closing an opening in an article, said assembly comprising in combination `two strips of fabric, each bearing fastener prongs projecting from one lateral edge thereof, two strips of rigid material, means operatively connecting each of said strips of fabric with one of said strips of rigid material, each strip of fabric being detachable from the associated rigid strip without deformation of the latter, said prongs overlying, and projecting for a distance less than the length of an individual prong beyond, the rigid strip with whichthey and means operatively connecting `said rigid strips to said closure; the adjacent edges of the rigid strips being substantially in contact when the fastener is closed and the elements thereof are under tension, said rigid strips substantially forming the closure.

6. A slide fastener assembly for a closure comprising in combination a rigid strip, a exible strip carrying prongs of an interlocking slide fastener, and means operatively connecting said flexible strip with saidrlgid strip remote from one ,edge thereof and being detachable therefrom without deformation of the rigid strip; a second rigid strip, a second exible strip carrying theV complementary prongs of the fastener, and means operatively connecting said second flexible strip with said second rigid strip remote from one edge thereof and being detachable therefrom without Adeformation of the rigid strip; and a sliding member adapted to cause said prongs to inter-4 lock to close the fastener, said member being provided with means, located on the opposite side are associated, and a sliding member adapted to cause said prongs to interlock to close the fastener, said member being provided with means by which it may be manually operated, said means being located on that side of said fabric strips that .is opposite to the side thereof that is adjacent to said rigid strips; said assembly being detachable as a unit from the article.

4. A slide fastener assembly for a closure comprising in combination a flat strip of metal and a strip of flexible material carrying prongs of the fastenerI said flexible strip being operativee ly connected with said metal strip remote from one edge thereof, the two strips lying in substantially parallel planes, said prongs overlying, and projecting for a distance less than the length of an individual prong beyond, one lateral edge of the metal strip; a second at strip of metal and a second strip of flexible material carrying the complementary .prongs of the fastener on one lateral edge thereof, said second flexible strip being operatively connected with said second metal strip remote from one edge thereof',l said last-mentioned strips lying in substantially parallel planes, the prongs carried by the second exible strip overlying, and projecting for a, distance less than the length of an individual prong beyond, one lateral edge of the second metalstrip; and a sliding member adapted to cause said prongs to interlock and thereby close the fastener,

said member being provided with means by whichi it may be manually operated, said means ,beingA located on the opposite side of said flexible strips from said metal strips; the adjacent edges of the metal strips, when the fastener is closed and the elements thereof are under tension, being separatedl by a space of less width than the length of an individual prong and substantially forming the closure. .l

5. A slide fastener assembly for a closure comprising in combination a pair of flat rigid strips; a pair of flexible strips each bearing a series of fastener prongs projecting from one lateral edge thereof, each of said flexible strips being operatively connected with one of the rigid strips by means external to the rigid strip; a sliding member adapted to cause said prongs to interlock and thereby close the fastener, said mern`l ber being provided with means, located on the opposite side oi said exible strips from said rigid strips, by which it may be manually operated;

of said flexible strips from said rigid strips, by which it may be manually operated; said assembly being detachable as a unit from said closure.

'7. A slide fastener assembly, detachable as a unit from`-`the edges of the article to which it is to be applied. said assembly comprising in combination a pair of rigid strips; a pair of flexible strips each bearing a series of fastener prongs projecting from one-lateral edge thereof, each of said flexible strips being operatively connected with one of the rigid strips along a line'remote from one edge thereof;l means for attabhing each half of said assembly to one edge of the article, each of said means passing through one of said rigid strips and the flexible strip associated therewith, saidmeans being independent of the means operatively connecting said flexible strips with said rigid strips; and a sliding member adapted to cause said series of prongs to interlock to close the fastener, said member heving provided with means, located on the opposite s prongs, when said fastener is closed and the elements thereof are under tension, overlying the edge of the opposing rigid strip; means for attaching each half ofsaid assembly to one edge of the article, each of said means passing through one of said rigid strips and the flexible strip associated therewith, said means being independent of the means operatively connecting said flexible strips with said rigid strips; and a sliding member adapted to cause said series of prongs to interlock to close the fastener, said member being provided with means, located on the opposite side of said flexible strips from said rigid strips, by which it may be manually operated.

9. A slide fastener assembly comprising in combination ajfle'xible strip carrying prongs of the fastener, a second flexible strip aillxed to the firstmentioned strip along a line spaced from the 4 strips are afxed to each other, said prong-carrying strip lying substantially flat on said rigid strip.

10. A detachable slide fastener assembly for application to the edges of an article, comprising in combination a rigid strip, a' exible strip carrying prongs of the fastener, said exible strip being operatively connected with said rigid 

